Lodestar

[Kipper]

I don't recall any mention of the Lodestar making an appearance in PS2. For those that don't know, that was the air vehicle which could carry a single ground vehicle and landed to unload it. (or it was when I was playing).

Do we need to be able to carry ground vehicles in the air?

Do we need the lodestar or can we cert the galaxy to carry a vehicle instead of ground troops (to keep the enemy guessing).

Can you hot drop a vehicle in a spectacularly cool special forces type of fashion, or should you be required to land and unload it?

Discuss please!

[JPalmer]

The thing was a flying box. I think a upgrade for the galaxy for it to able to carry lightnings, atvs and sunderers would be good enough.

[The Kush]

An upgrade for the galaxy to carry vehicles would be awesome. The galaxy in PS1 could carry a small vehicle like a lightening tank (if I remember correctly) but having the option to carry bigger vehicles and less troops would be cool

[Purple]

Originally Posted by JPalmer

The thing was a flying box. I think a upgrade for the galaxy for it to able to carry lightnings, atvs and sunderers would be good enough.

there is no way you could fit a sunderer in gal. those things are massive.

[Kipper]

Originally Posted by Purple

there is no way you could fit a sunderer in gal. those things are massive.

Maybe slung underneath it, chinook style? Awesome.

[JPalmer]

I could see people using Sunderers as wrecking balls and bowling balls if they were hooked up Helicopter style.

Hell no, lol.

[Brusi]

wait, did you just say hell no to using sunderers as gigantic wrecking balls?

Loadstars were used more for the repair function than the transport function anyway, which is now the role of the sunderer.

[Figment]

Yes but that's because of how hard it was (effort) to get a lodestar and keep it alive. Risk vs reward: lodestar reward was higher at low risk; ie it paid much much much more to use it as a supply station than to mass hot drop tanks somewhere and jump in the gunner seat for instance. Plus people had to think of this and pay certpoints.

The biggest issue was that you could only get them at dropship centers: took longer to get one, fly it over, pick up a tank than to drive, unless you were still in sanctuary. Why? Because both pads were next to one another: little effort.

It could also be that the devs hate my sundy to the top cc at tech plant strategy and want to prevent things like tossing tanks on top of buildings.

[Figment]

That said, lodestars would only be useful if there is need for airlifting. That means terrain obstacles that severely slow down driving or threats need to be circumvented (ANT-run), while getting lodestar support is effortless.

Not sure if the PS2 team made the maps and logistics such it requires airlifting. Tactically though, it provides a lot of options. If LLUs are back, airlifting in buggies would for instance be very useful. Mass lodestar/sunderer/mbt action was awesome though!

Shame it was so hard to organise...

[Brusi]

It seems that they are going for less vehicles with more rolls that each vehicle can fill.

So, hopefully this means there is some sort of transport/airlift mod for the Galaxy, or even Liberator. I would still by far prefer that they created a whole new vehicle for the purpose...

(the loadstar was ugly anyway)

[Sirisian]

Originally Posted by Purple

there is no way you could fit a sunderer in gal. those things are massive.

Anything is possible.

[Naz The Eternal]

Originally Posted by Brusi

wait, did you just say hell no to using sunderers as gigantic wrecking balls?

I like this post and support the movement!

[Knocky]

Chop the ass off a Gal and you get a Sky Crane....sorta.

[Sabot]

No lodestars in PS2... pretty sure they've said that they'll probably add somethin to the Gal... make it able to carry a smaller vehicle.
Mainly I think they removed it cause it was sooooo boring to pilot one. Take off, fly slowly, land, sit and stare while people repair around you.... maybe pop out and repair it from time to time. They were very useful, but boring to use...

[Figment]

Strategy isn't always about action, 'boring activity A' can be exciting and fun by improving or making possible 'exciting Plan D: triple sunderer drop on top of building' or supporting 'recreational function E: random ANT shower'.

Just looking at the stationary sitting in one spot would be narrowminded and largely the lode operators fault as he could also be gunning or fortifying his position and man a field turret, etc.